Bang!
Back at the hotel, Stelle collapsed onto the bed and instantly fell asleep.
She had already lost count of how many times Xun Yu had sent her flying.
How many cycles had it been of:
sent flying → healed → body strengthened → sent flying again?
It didn't matter anymore. She just wanted to sleep…
Stelle drifted into a baby-like slumber.
While she slept, a glow appeared at her chest.
The light spread across her entire body. She floated into the air, only falling back onto the bed after quite a while.
If you measured it in numbers, the current Stelle could probably beat ten versions of yesterday's self.
On the other side, Yanqing also collapsed into sleep.
Thanks to the Xianzhou people's excellent physique, he wasn't seriously hurt.
The improvement to his constitution was only one part of it. After this experience, Yanqing had regained his confidence.
Jingliu, Blade, Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae—plus his usual sparring with his own general.
Of the Cloud Knights' famed five, Yanqing had fought four of them by himself.
And Xun Yu's Great Desolation Heaven-Sealing Finger had pinned him down before he even had time to react…
A blow to one's sharp edge could be a good thing. But too much of a blow wasn't.
Still…
Rejoice! The legendary tank king—Yanqing—would set out again with a brand-new mindset!
"So… it's time to test whether the special training was successful~"
Inside a dim little room, Xun Yu and Aha rested their chins in their hands. In front of them sat an old-fashioned television, currently showing the sleeping Yanqing.
"Gwah-gwah-gwah… quack-quack-quack…"
After the two prank-loving troublemakers let out a series of goose-like and duck-like noises, the image on the television changed…
…
Star Calendar "■■" Year…
Yanqing, disciple of General Jing Yuan of the Luofu, earned the title of Sword Champion.
On the high platform, Yanqing stood proud and spirited, eyes shining.
Especially when he saw Jing Yuan's pleased expression—
All the hardships he'd endured felt worth it.
Sword Champion… Sword Champion…
From now on, he was the new Sword Champion of the Luofu!
"General!"
After the ceremony ended, Yanqing immediately went to Jing Yuan.
"Well done, Yanqing."
Jing Yuan praised him generously.
Yanqing scratched his head the whole time, a little embarrassed.
It was the first time he'd heard the general praise him like that…
It all felt like a dream…
Ha… Maybe he was just too tired today. Why would he think something like that?
Thinking back on the formidable opponents he'd faced today, a wave of exhaustion hit him.
He yawned. Jing Yuan noticed.
"Yanqing, go back and get some proper rest. You must be worn out today."
"Another day, I'll host a grand banquet to celebrate your becoming the Luofu's Sword Champion."
Jing Yuan patted his shoulder. Yanqing nodded seriously.
On the way back, he received countless congratulations—from acquaintances and strangers alike.
He smiled and responded to each, until he returned to his residence.
He dove onto the soft bed and rolled around excitedly.
"I'm the Sword Champion… I'm the Sword Champion!"
Still muttering the words, without even changing clothes, Yanqing fell into a peaceful sleep.
In his dream, he dreamed of meeting a special teacher before becoming Sword Champion…
Why special…?
The dream suddenly shifted. Yanqing saw a jeep charging toward him.
There was a blurry figure in the car, shouting for him not to dodge—telling him to charge forward?
So strange… so familiar…
But… no memory…
Yanqing felt like he'd overlooked something—or forgotten something…
The dream began to shatter, signaling his impending awakening.
"Haah! Haah! Haah!"
Yanqing gasped, staring at his hands in shock.
Was that… a nightmare?
"Sword Champion! Something terrible has happened!"
Qingzu burst into Yanqing's residence, looking extremely disheveled, covered in wounds.
"What happened?"
A bad premonition suddenly rose in Yanqing's chest. His heartbeat quickened.
Then Qingzu spoke.
"General Jing Yuan… he…"
"What about the General?!"
Yanqing jumped off the bed.
"The General… has fallen into mara…"
"What?!"
Star Calendar "■■" Year.
Genius swordsman Yanqing was honored as Sword Champion.
The next day, Luofu Cloud Knight General Jing Yuan fell into mara…
The Cloud Knights gathered and battled him at the Star-Skiff Sea…
"General…"
The Star-Skiff Sea lay in ruins. Yanqing looked at Jing Yuan before him, bitterness in his smile.
How did it come to this…? He'd just said they would celebrate my becoming Sword Champion with a grand feast…
Memories of the past surfaced…
"We Cloud Knights are as clouds that veil the sky, shielding the Xianzhou!"
"Yes, Master!"
"We Cloud Knights are as clouds that veil the sky, shielding the Xianzhou!"
Once again, Yanqing raised his sword against Jing Yuan.
But this time… it was different.
Those who fall into mara lose reason and humanity.
In just a few breaths, Yanqing and Jing Yuan clashed countless times.
"Mara is the fate of the long-lived. If one day I fall into mara, you must not hold back."
Jing Yuan's words echoed like they were spoken yesterday.
"Goodbye… General…"
The full force of Yanqing's Taixu Sword God descended.
Under that strike, Jing Yuan vanished without a trace.
Just before the blow landed, Yanqing thought he saw the general… smile?
He glanced at the surrounding devastation. His consciousness blurred.
Before collapsing, he thought he saw Diviner Fu Xuan arriving late… and maybe heard the general saying something to him.
What was it he said…?
In the darkness, Yanqing reached out, struggling.
Then light appeared.
He saw Jing Yuan standing with his back to him.
"Yanqing, when you wake, you'll find everything has changed. The world will no longer be as beautiful, and those ordinary days will be gone."
"But don't give up. Lift your head and keep moving forward. Go and make this imperfect world into the one you hope for."
"This is your final lesson."
"Yanqing, you've always been my pride."
Jing Yuan's figure faded. Yanqing was already in tears.
Memories flooded back—especially the times he'd spent all his money on swords and had to rely on the general at the end of the month.
Yanqing's vision went black. He fainted again.
Star Calendar "■■" Year.
Luofu General Jing Yuan fell into mara. Sword Champion Yanqing battled him at the Star-Skiff Sea.
Diviner Fu Xuan succeeded as general, while Divination Commission officer Qingque succeeded as Diviner…
"Huh? Me? The Diviner?"
The master of slacking, Qingque, pointed at herself in confusion.
"Why does something feel… off?"
Diviner Qingque rubbed her chin, deep in thought…
Meanwhile, Yanqing woke up.
The dream… was over.